Ski USA & Canada – Three Amazing Offers

Don’t let the end of summer drag you down into a gloomy place, give yourself something to look forward to: three amazing offers on ski holidays in North America. Aspen from £1297 for 7 nights. Now, there’s a reason to be cheerful.

If you’ve ever wanted to wake up to Silver Dollar Pancakes and Champagne Powder then its time to think North America. Edinburgh based Ski Independence are the UK’s leading tailor-made ski holiday specialist, with over 20 years experience in the US and Canada and they’ve been kind enough to extend these outstanding special offers to A Hume customers.

To the uninitiated Aspen is Hollywood swank, to those who know it it’s a funky old silver mining town that grew up to be probably the best ski resort in the world.

Yes, you’ll find shiny plastic people with spray on ski pants but they’re less evident than you’d imagine, what is striking is the friendly, easy-going, charming and totally un-pretentious feel of the town. There are heaps of bars, restaurants and cafes, ranging from the Michelin starred, to the bo-ho burger joint.

The Aspen Snowmass ski resort includes four distinct areas: Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, Snowmass and Aspen Highlands. Between them they cater to skiers of all abilities: Highlands Bowl is the ultimate steep, deep bowl skiing experience for which the USA is renowned, Snowmass is perfect for intermediates and families, Buttermilk, as the names suggests, a benign playground for beginners, who gape open-mouthed at X-Games types riding the 6.7meter superpipe in the terrain park, and Aspen Mountain home to beautifully groomed and gladed tree skiing – accessible to all levels.

Getting to Aspen is a little more of a schlep, but trust us, the additional effort is worth every cramped minute of in-flight discomfort.

The Gant is perfect for families, groups and couples looking for self-catering ski holiday accommodation in a great location near the centre of town and close to the lifts. There are outdoor heated pools and hot tubs and the legendary Gant shuttle service (The Gant Man) is on hand to ferry you around Aspen.

We don’t like to describe a ski resort simply in stats, it says nothing about the character of the place, the scenery (pointy with trees), or the style but with Whistler it’s just too hard to resist: 8,000+ acres of ski and snowboard terrain, 12 alpine bowls, 3 glaciers and over 200 marked trails. Now that’s pretty vast, pretty spectacular and is the exception that proves the rule.

Whistler is big, in every sense, the mountains are big, the town is big and the attitude is big. This is a place to come if you want to be blown away on and off the mountain in a non-stop kind of way.

Whistler has found a way to expend human energy like no other ski resort, on mountain you can ski first lift to last for days on end and never be bored of either Blackcomb Mountain or Whistler. There’s stupendous in bound backcountry skiing, amazing jaw dropping scenery – ride the Peak Chair and you’ll see what we mean as Black Tusk rears up at you out of nowhere – and thousands of acres of swishy swishy intermediate and beginner terrain.

Off mountain you could occupy your days and nights many times over. Whistler has an après ski scene that will have you digging deep into your reserves in an effort to keep up. If you never skied once you’d still have a ball.

Tops for non-stop ski and snowboard adventure. See above for a taste of 2012/13 action at Whistler.

With all that non-stop stuff you’ll want somewhere extremely comfy to lay your head and the 5-star Four Seasons Resort is a truly luxurious retreat, good enough to cut it in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2010 Gold List of World’s Best Places to Stay. It has everything this honour suggests plus a ski concierge who drops you slopeside and presents you with your warm dry kit.

Prices from: £1589pp for 7 nights in a double room with complimentary upgrade to a Premier King (based on 2 sharing), flights from Edinburgh to Vancouver, shared transfer and a 35% discount.

Perhaps the flipside of the Whistler coin, Banff is set in the stunning scenery of Banff National Park where any development, and even the right to residency is heavily regulated. As you roll out across the Calgary plain towards the Rockies you get a sense that you’re in big country, a home to bears, cougars and backcountry critters. Indeed it’s common enough to see herds of Elk wandering the streets of Banff.

The skiing happens mostly at Sunshine Village a short hop on the eco-happy biodiesel bus from the super friendly, low rise town. There are masses of wide-open beginner and intermediate terrain and Goat’s Eye Mountain is a magnet for hardy, advanced types. Delirium Dive is a new kind of steep altogether….at your own risk.

Lake Louise is within striking distance and can be skied on the Tri Area lift ticket (which also includes the local’s hill Mount Norquay). It’s an absolute must if you’re staying in Banff. An amazing World Class ski area that is both incredibly scenic and a joy to ski for all levels. Temple Lodge tucked away over the back of the mountain is one of our top on-mountain eateries.

Banff is the sort of place that gets under your skin without you even being aware of it. Before you know it you’ll have completely fallen for it.

There are so many great places to stay in Banff but no question, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel tops the list. An old Canadian Pacific Railway creation, the hotel was built in the Scots Baronial style and now sits like some grand old dame, amidst the trees overlooking the Bow Valley. It really is quite something. Five star luxury, a wonderful spa and outdoor hot tubs with possibly the best view in the world.

Finally a word on our friends at Ski Independence, who’ve been kind enough to extend these special offers to A Hume Customers.

Ski Independence offers exceptional tailor-made holidays specifically suited to your requirements. With an excellent attention to detail and knowledgeable team, they are committed to finding your perfect ski holiday. To find out more, get in touch with one of their experienced team members on 0131 243 8097 or request a tailor-made quotation online: www.ski-i.com/quotation